Mae West. . . Mae West. . . Mae West. . . This site is all about the actress MAE WEST [1893-1980] - - and the ANNUAL MAE WEST GALA. More than just a movie star was MAE WEST. Come up and see her!

Friday, December 29, 2006

Mae West: Gay Mainstay

In December, the newspaper Chicago Sun-Times offered its front page to its Controversy section with a piece titled “Decoding Icons”; the columnist gave a backward glance to various gay and lesbian cultural heroes. MAE WEST was included in this pantheon. • • According to the essay, older gay men often take Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, and Barbra Streisand as personal representatives of the men’s own struggles: All these females had been judged by limited standards. • • On the distaff side, lesbians see their own icons as powerful, though not necessarily butch — such as former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, fantasyland's Xena, and tennis pro Martina Navratilova. • • The scribe pointed out the obvious - - that the very nature of icons may shift and that gays want to be respected now, not just tolerated. • • Additionally, outspoken people - - such as UK author Oscar Wilde - - are now joining the ranks of entertainers such as MAE WEST, Cher, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Madonna, and Joan Crawford. ...• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/________Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xmlMae West• • Photo: Mae West • • on trial for writing "Pleasure Man" • • 1928 • • NYCMae West.